And frank b



Sept. 18, 1928. 1,684,933

E. A. WIDMANN ET AL RADIO ATTACHMENT FOR TALKING MACHINES Filed June 6. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 18, 1928. v 1,684,933

E. A. WIDMANN ET AL RADIO ATTACHMENT FOR TALKING MACHINES Filed June 6. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 18,

UNITE. S'lTElS ATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE A. WIDIILANN, 0F BBOQHLYN, NEW YORK, AND FRANK ID. LEXVIS, OF WEST ()RANGJEJ, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PAIHE PHONO- GRAPH & RADIO CORPORATION, CGRPORATION OF NElV YORK.

RADIO ATTACHMENT FOR TALKING MACHINES.

Application fi1ed .Tune 6,

This invention relates to radio attachments for talking machines; and it comprises cer tain improvements, hereinafter fully described, whereby a radio apparatus may applied to a talkin machine of conventional or commercial type, so that the stylus and tone-arm of the machine may co-operate with. the telephone receiver of the radio set to transmit the sound waves sent out by the broadcasting or othu' sending apparatus, and received by the diaphragm ot the aforesaid telephone receiver, to a suitable amplifying device which is the one ordinarily employed in the talking n'iachine for amplifying the sound vibrations transmitted thereto, through the stylus tl'irom the record.

The invention further resides in the provision of a combined machine of the above character, in which the use of the tone arm and associated parts for coaction with the telephone receiver in no way interferes with their use in the ordinary manner in conjunction with the sound record; the construction being such as to enable the tone-arm to be put to either use alternatively, and without involving more than a mere change in its position and the substitution of one term of stylus for another. In the same general connection, the invention further contemplates the provision of a combined machine of the cabinet type, in which the radio apparatus may be readily attached to the machine and housed within the cabinet; the telephone receiver being mounted on the deck of? the machine at one side oi the rotating record carrier, so that the tone-arm can be easily and quickly moved from a position in which it co-acts with the record to one in which it coacts with the telephone receiver, and Vice versa.

The invention alsocontemplates the provision of a telephone receiver which normally supports the stylus of the tone arm out of contact with the receiver diaphragm, and means for cutting cit local filament heatin energy from the electron tubes of the radio receiving apparatus, both when the tone arm is in inoperative position with relation to the recordand during the time that a record is being played.

Other and further improvements and advantages are involved in the invention and will be explained at len th as the descri time prmzeede; but it to he undo 1922. Serial No. 566,224.

the invention is not limited to the precise structural features represented in the embodiment disclosed in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described, since the invention is obviously susceptible of modifications and changes within its scope as subsequently claimed.

The invention is preferably, though not necessarily, applied to the talking machine lmown connncrci ally as the Actuelle, which is a machine embodying a large conical or equivalent diaphragm of vibratile material carried by one end of a swinging tube or hollow arm movable horizontally across the record, the" other end of such arm carrying a stylus holder. 1 he latter and the apex of the diaphragm are connected by an element which transmits the vibrations to which the stylus and its holder are subjected, to the diaphragm which is thereby caused to vibrate piston-hishion and, in consequence, acts to regenerate the original sound waves in their initial tonal strength and'quality in free, unconfined atmospheric air. In this type of machine, the swinging arm and the conical diaphragm replace the usual tone arm and sound box of the conventional, standard machine; but for the purposes of the present invention, the swinging arm and the large diaphragm constitute, in their broadest aspects, a tone-arm and an amplifier, respectively, and are to be so considered.

According to our invention, therefore the swinging arm, or equivalent tone arm, 13 moved to position for cooperation with the diaphagm plate or armature of the telephone receiver, and its stylus holder is fitted with a special stylus which is adapted to engage a central button or the like providedon the upper surface of said diaphragm. Hence, when the radio set has been properly tune, and the broadcasting operation commences, the vibrations of the diaphragm plate will be transmitted directly to the stylus, and thence through the transmission element to the large conical diaphragm or amplifier which will thereupon regenerate the orignial sound waves in precisely the same way and with the same efl ects when a record is being played.

To control. the connections of the electron tube circuits of the radio receiving ap ratns, the telephone receiver is equip "with a switch which is a angel to inoperative.

normally open the circuit between the filaments of the electron tubes in the receiving apparatus and the filament heating or A storage battery. In this position the recciving apparatus is not responsive to broadcast, and the telephone receiver is, therefore, The tone arm or swinging arm, then, will either occupy a stationary, idle position or will be used for playing records, in which latter instance its stylus holder will be fitted with one'or another type of stylus or needle according to the character of recording on the record being played. /Vhen, however, the broadcasting operation is about to commence, the switch lever is moved to circuit-closing position, thereby heating the filamentary cathodes ofthe several electron tubes of the receiving apparatus and placing the equipment in receiving condition. The record-playing stylus is removed and replaced by the special stylus before mentioned, and the tone arm is swung over to a position in which the special stylus rests upon the diaphragm plate, whereupon the sound waves will be reproduced as soon as the sending operation starts.

Inasmuch as the entire receiving set occupies but little space. it can be readily installed in a comparatively small portion of the record compartment, so that the application of the invention to a conventional cabinet machine does not entail excessive reduction of its'recordor album-holding capactiy. I

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure '1 is a front elevation of a commercial talking machine, with the invention installed therein, the doors of the record compartment being open.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental plan view of the deck of the machine, showing the relative arrangement of the parts mounted thereon; thetone arm being disposed in its normal idle or inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmental side elevation of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section on line 4+4, Fig. 2, but showing the tone arm in position for co -action with the, diaphragm of the telephone receiver, the .switch lever being in circuit-closing position.- a I Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 2, but with the switch lever closed.

Fig. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical connections of the radio re ceiver, showing the switching means provided to energize the filament circuits of the electron tubes in the receiver.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 7 designates in a general manner the cabinet or a standard machine (in this instance, an Actuelle), 8 the hinged cover thereof, 9 the space within the lower portion of the cabinet, usually fully occupied by the record albums, or by record racks, 11 the doors for closing such space or compartment, 12 the deck in the upper portion of the cabinet, and 13 the upper or tone-controlling doors.

The rotating turn-table i l, or other record carrier, is mounted in the usual way on the upper end of a vertical shaft or spindle which projects through an opening in the deck 12 and is driven from the motor (not shown) in the ordinary manner. llt supports a disk record 16, as usual; and across the record is fed the swinging tone arm 17. The latter, in this instance, as previously explained, has the form of a hollow member or tube which is adapted to move horizontally during the playing operation and is supported toward its rear end by a yoke or bracket 18 is which it is mounted for universal movement. The large conical or equivalent diaphragm 19 is attached to the rear end of the arm in the manner usual in the standard Actuclle, while at the front end of said arm there is mounted the rocking stylus holder 20 which, when a record. is being played, will have fitted in its socket a steel or other needle or stylus (not shown), but which will receive a special. stylus 21 when the sound-waves sent by the broadcasting or other apparatus are to be reproduced, as hereinafter more fully described. The hollow arm 17 contains a device 22 for transmitting to the reproducing diaphragm 19 the vibration imparted to the stylus and its holder; and this transmission device or element may comprisi a thinwalled metal tube connected at one end to the holder and at the other end to the diaphragnn The tone arm, or its equivalent. when not in use, is supported at one side of the turntable by means of a hook 223, from which it may be lifted and moved into position to play a record on the turntable. This hook may, and preferably does, form part of a switch-lever 24, which is employed to control the electron tube filament circuit of the radio receiving apparatus. The leads from the telephone receiver are indicated as a twin-conductor 27 (Figs. 3 and it) and the receiver itself, which is indicated at 25. may comprise, as here shown, a case 28 and a base-plate 29 fastened together and to the deck 12, and located at onc side of the turntable. The deck is provided with vertical openings, through one of which projects a. binding post 30 which is groumlcd to the base plate 29 and to which the wire 26 is connected, while the leads 27 extend through the other opening into the case 28 and thence into the watch case 31 which is :u'rangcd in case 28, as represented in Fig. i. The armature plate or diaphragm 32 of the telephone receiver is clamped at its edge between the eio top of the watch case 31 and the top member of the case 28 in such a manner as to enable it to vibrate freely in accordance with sig nals received by the radio apparatus.

The above-mentioned top member 01": the case 28 is provided with a central opening 33 to enable the special stylus 21, which is formed at its free end with an enlarged head 3d of inverted cone shape, to engage the diaphragm plate 32; and to facilitate such engagement, the said diaphragm may be turni shed with a eentralprojection or button 35 which is located directly beneath the opening 83, and upon which the stylus head 34 directly bears during receiving. Under normal conditions, however, the diaphragm is inaccessible to the stylus, for the re: son that lever 24 extendsacross and thus closes said opening; the lever being pivoted at its free end on a pin 36 which is set into the top member of the case 28 and which carries a springwasher 37 to hold said lever in adjusted position.

In the position of parts just described, the filament circuit of the electron tubes of the receiving apparatus is broken and no energy will be supplied to the telephone receiver 31. This operation will be more clearly understood by reference to Fig. 6 which illustrates diagrammatically the electrical connections of the radio receiving apparatus. The receiving equipment. is connected to an antenna and ground system and 51, and includes suitable tuning elements 52 and 53. An electron tube detector 54 is employed which may be of the regenerative type utilizing the variometer 55 in the plate circuit. A multistage electron tube ampli fier may also be included, indicated at 56 and 57. In the output circuit of the last stage of amplification, the telephone receiver 81, is connected to loads 27. The plate circuits of the electron tubes include the usual l3 battery. The filament circuits of all of the electron tubes are supplied from the A battery, controlled through. rheostat 58, the filament circuit including conductor 26 connected to binding post 30 which, as previously stated, is grounded through the cas ing 28 to switch lever 24. The filament circuit is completed through the contact strip 39 which is mounted on an insulating block or segment 10 set into the top member of the casing 28, so that there will normally be a gap in the circuit. The switch lever 24 is utilized to bridge this gap; and for that purpose, a pair of? spring aws a1 is provided on the contact strip 39 to receive between them the said switch lever, when the latter is moved from its full-line to its dotted-line position as indicated in Fig. 2. When so engaged, the switch closes the filament circuit, and the receiving apparatus becomes operative; the vibrations o'li the telephone diaphragm being transmitted through the stylus 21 and transmission element 22 to the large amplifying diaphragm 19.

at the conclusion of broadcasting, the tone arm can he lifted, the switch lever moved back toits normal. position to break the filament circuit and cover the stylus opening 83, and the tone arm then put back on its supporting hook 23. If it is desired to play a record, the stylus 21 may be removed and replaced by an ordinary needle or stylus; but otherwise the arm may be left idle until the next broadcasting operation.

As stated above, the record compartment 9 is ordinarily filled by the record albums 10. In the present instance. however, a small space at one side of the eompartn'ient is utlized to receive the usual A and B batteries 43 and 42 oi": the radio-receiving set. The other parts of the receiving set are mounted on a panel which is supported on a shelf ll) and is provided with a handle 46 by means oi which it may be withdrawn together with the shelf; the aforesaid sheli being slidably supported in the record compartment above the row of albums, so as not to interfere with their removal. The receiver parts, which may be of any suitable or preferred construction, may comprise the apparatus shown in Fig. 6. The variometers 53 and 55 in both the antenna and plate circuits of the detector tube may be operated from controls projecting from the front of the panel. The variable tuning condenser 52 may also be controlled by a knob on the front of the panel. The rheostat 58 is also mounted on the panel and permits variation in the electron emitting temperature of the filaments of the electron tubes. This rheostat is placed on the circuit containing the A battery which is only completed by movement oi: switch lever 24: into contact with the clip 41:1. Terminals 50 and 51 are provided for connection of the apparatus to the antenna and ground system, or other forms of antennae may be employed. The A and B batteries mounted within the cabinet are electrically wired represented in Fig. 6.

The invention ifs believed to be apparent from the foregoing, and further description thereoi is accordingly omitted.

o claim as our invention:

1. The combination of a radio receiving apparatus comprising a telephone receiver; atone arm provided with a stylus holder and movable into and out of a position in which the stylus in said holder is engaged with the diaphragm of the telephone receiver; an amplifier with which the tone arm is connected; and means for completing the circuit through the receiving apparatus and also for controlling access ot the stylus to the diaphragm of said receiver.

2. The combination of a radio receiving apparatus comprising a telephone receiver; a. tone arm. provided with a stylus holder and movable into and out of a position in which the stylus in said holder is engaged with the diaphragm of the telephone receiver; an amplifier with which the tone arm is connected; and a single member operable to simultaneously complete the circuit in said receiving apparatus and enable enga ement of the receiver diaphragm byv the sty us.

3. The combination of a radio receiving set embodying a telephone receiver having an opening in its top; a tone arm provided with a stylus holder and movable into and outof a position in which the stylus in said holder projects through said opening into engagement with the diaphragm of the telephone receiver; and a member pivotally mounted on the receiver for optionally covering or uncovering said opening and also for controlling the circuit in said receiving set.

4:. The combination of a radio receiving set comprising a telephone receiver having an opening in its top; a tone arm provided with a stylus holder and movable into and out of a position in which the stylus in said holder projects through said opening into engagement with the diaphragm ot the telephone reeeiver; and a switch lever for controlling the circuit in said receiving set, mounted on said receiver in position to uncover said opening when said circuit is closed, and vice versa.

5. The combination of a radio receiving set comprising a telephone receiver, a tone arm provided with a stylus holder and movable into and out of a position in which the stylus in said holder engages the diaphragm of the telephone receiver; and a switch lever for controlling the circuit in said receiving set, mounted on said receiver in position to permit or prevent the engagementof the diaphragm by the stylus according as said or cuit is closed or open.

In testimony whereof, we have aiiixed our signatures.

EUGENE A. iVlDlllftNN. FRANK D. LEWIS. 

